While I agree with your overall point regarding the importance of contextual history when looking at any design, one nit I would pick is your statement that the

While I agree with your overall point regarding the importance of contextual history when looking at any design, one nit I would pick is your statement that there was no internet when Phil Katz created and PKWARE released PKZIP. First release was Feb of 1989, and I was most assuredly on the internet at that time, and in fact that is where I first encountered PKZIP. The 80s BBS scene was built around things like ARC, LHarc, and ZOO. ARC essentially got killed by its creators SEA thanks to their suing PKWARE over PKARC. Many BBS operators banned the use of ARC after that lawsuit in protest (a similar furor would erupt 5-6 years later over GIF).